The V&M/Albaladejo site sits in Almirante Norte Ward, Vega Baja, Puerto Rico. It consisted of five small burn areas where cables, batteries, and electrical equipment were burned to recover metals. Open burning continued on the V&M property until 1986 and on the Albaladejo property until 1988. EPA added the site to the Superfund National Priorities List in December 1996.
Soil samples found elevated levels of antimony, cadmium, copper, silver, and lead in surface soil. EPA also identified ten contaminants of concern in groundwater across the site, including aluminum, arsenic, barium, iron, manganese, nickel, and zinc, along with antimony, cadmium, and lead. EPA determined these substances posed an unacceptable risk to human health or the environment.
Cleanup started with a removal action completed in early 1998 that took out contaminated surface soils from all five burn areas. Investigators then installed six groundwater monitoring wells and ran four rounds of sampling from 1998 to 1999. No site-related contamination was found in the groundwater. Based on those results, EPA issued a Record of Decision on September 29, 2000, selecting no further action as the remedy for the entire site.
EPA deleted the site from the National Priorities List on October 22, 2001. Human exposure is under control, meaning no unacceptable pathways exist for people to contact contamination. Groundwater migration is also under control, with no unacceptable discharge to surface water. The site achieved sitewide ready for anticipated reuse status in June 2006, confirming that all cleanup goals for current and future land uses have been met.
Community members with questions can contact the site's Community Involvement Coordinator or Remedial Project Manager. Site records are available for review at Vega Baja City Hall, the EPA Caribbean Environmental Protection Division Field Office in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, and the EPA Superfund Records Center in New York City.
